Over the weekend, Eurovision got a feel-good ending. Bulgaria won the contest for the very first time with their infectious song Bangaranga. And Australia came close - with Delta Goodrem placing 4th.

But the controversy over Israel didn’t go away. Israeli singer Noam Bettan finished second, after getting a huge huge public vote – despite protests outside the contest, boycotts from five countries, and warnings over the Israeli broadcaster KAN running a campaign telling people to vote ten times.

Eurovision insists it’s a non-political contest... but over the past three years, Israel’s place in it  has exposed how political that stage can be – and how useful it can be for a government trying to shape how the world sees it.

Today, author of Eurovision!: A History of Modern Europe Through the World’s Greatest Song Contest, Chris West, on the boycott, the vote, and how Israel turned the world’s biggest song contest into a soft-power campaign.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

And Eurovision audio is courtesy of SBS.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Author of Eurovision!: A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest, Chris West.

Photo: EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

Over the weekend, Eurovision got a feel-good ending. Bulgaria won the contest for the very first time with their infectious song Bangaranga. And Australia came close - with Delta Goodrem placing 4th.
But the controversy over Israel didn&rsquo;t go away. Israeli singer Noam Bettan finished second, after getting a huge huge public vote &ndash; despite protests outside the contest, boycotts from five countries, and warnings over the Israeli broadcaster KAN running a campaign telling people to vote ten times.
Eurovision insists it&rsquo;s a non-political contest... but over the past three years, Israel&rsquo;s place in it&nbsp; has exposed how political that stage can be &ndash; and how useful it can be for a government trying to shape how the world sees it.
Today, author of Eurovision!: A History of Modern Europe Through the World&rsquo;s Greatest Song Contest, Chris West, on the boycott, the vote, and how Israel turned the world&rsquo;s biggest song contest into a soft-power campaign.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
And Eurovision audio is courtesy of SBS.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Author of Eurovision!: A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest, Chris West.
Photo:&nbsp;EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

Eurovision, Israel and the politics of pop music

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